The Kennedys can never be replaced
To the editor:
I read with complete and total amusement the bitter and jaded ramblings of Vin Suprynowicz in his Sunday column on Ted Kennedy ("His monument stands all around us").
For the past 50 years, Republicans have been bitterly jealous and resentful of the Kennedys, pointing out the affairs and the partying instead of praising their huge achievements in recognizing and helping the hidden and less fortunate members of our society, as well as their heroic war efforts.
Most laughable, though, is their continued praise of Ronald Reagan, who will never come close to the admiration and fascination Americans have bestowed on the Kennedys. They can never be replaced.
Jerry Crafton
LAS VEGAS
Land of Oz
To the editor:
Finally, someone has written a factual commentary on the late senator from Massachusetts (Vin Suprynowicz, "His monument stands all around us").
Having been aware of most of the "Teddy" travesties over the past decades, I was almost convinced that the person being eulogized on the national news channels for the past few days was an imposter. As in Oz, when we get a glimpse behind the curtain, what we see is nothing resembling the facade produced by the political and media combine.
W.T. Boyd
MESQUITE
Terror war
To the editor:
I think we can all agree that directly after 9/11, everyone was willing to do anything to find out if another attack was coming. If you check the records, I'll bet you will not find Barack Obama advocating that we read the terrorists their Miranda rights.
Today it's a different story.
President Obama now wants to prosecute interrogators who used tactics no more frightening than lying to terrorists to make them think they would die. Don't the police use this tactic? Do the police not tell suspects that they will face the death penalty if convicted? The police then say they will seek leniency. Sometimes they legally lie, and I think this is a good thing.
We can lie to criminal suspects, but not terrorists?
We now hear that there is no proof that advanced interrogation was the only thing that would have worked. That we could convince terrorists who were willing to kill as many people as possible to divulge all their plans just by being nice is laughable. I can only hope we are not reverting back to pre-9/11 strategies.
President Obama says he has nothing to do with Attorney General Eric Holder's investigation of the CIA. This to me is a lie. He had to approve it before it was made public. The president is on record as saying he did not want to look back. So it's simple: When Mr. Holder comes to him, Mr. Obama says, "Drop it, Eric. If anyone is convicted, I will pardon."
Charlie Ychon
LAS VEGAS
Comforting murderers
To the editor:
While reading UNLV law professor Peter Boyer's piece on Sunday, in which he said "mercy elevates humanity above terrorists," I was amazed that such prose and caring came on behalf of a person responsible for the killing of 270 people.
I cannot imagine that the term "compassionate release" can be used when a mere seven years in prison is served for such a horrific act. I truly believe that if Mr. Boyer wants to show how much he cares about how our great society believes in mercy, he need only go to local prisons to speak.
Most recently, Susan Atkins, convicted as part of the Manson family, was denied compassionate release even though she is dying of brain cancer.
How many other prisoners, suffering the last stages of terminal cancer or other illness, would the professor speak on behalf of? Please, professor, look within our own country and give comfort to our own dying mass murderers.
W.J. PARK
LAS VEGAS
Opinions abounded
To the editor:
I would like to correct the article in the Sept. 1 Review-Journal about the rally at which Harry Reid spoke. The article said, "The rally was organized by the state Democratic Party and people attending were pre-screened, meaning there was little to no dissenting opinion in the room."
Yes, you needed to sign up on the Internet if you were attending. But anyone could sign up -- you did not have to state your political affiliation. So there could have been many dissenting opinions.
Lee Bliss
NORTH LAS VEGAS
